I was trying to piece System Corporation's sound together when I noticed the band is from New Zealand. Oh, so that Buzzcocks playing the Chills vibe makes sense all of a sudden. Maybe you'd prefer Wedding Present playing Straitjacket Fits? Do you even know what I'm talking about? Get back to me when you do.

System Corporation Foundation & Method (self-released)

Albums like this make me feel old, but in a good way. System Corporation is hearkening back to my late teenage years in a very weird way. This is a very pop rock album, and pop rock is so, so very past its expiration date. Hearing those minor chords played with chunky enthusiasm is one of those call-backs to my youth that I simply cannot resist.

More than that, though, System Corporation is really mixing two different pop movements that co-existed rather than cross-pollinated. While I'm sure I have "Heavenly Pop Hit" and "Brassneck" on a mixtape from way back when, I don't recall a band that tried a mashup. But if I grew up in New Zealand and was dorky enough to listen to my Mom's old tapes...yeah. Totally.

Perhaps this is actually a popular sound down that way. I'm guessing not, considering the note on the Bandcamp page: "A hard fought battle, eventually won by the band." Yeah, exactly. It's an inspired turn, but a most unusual one. Strikingly, crazily beautiful.

Jon Worley